News

As a young veterinarian in Zambia, Dr. William Witola wanted to know why the baby cows he saw were dying from a parasite resisting all treatment. Decades later, the University of Illinois Veterinary Medicine researcher is designing small molecules to silence that same parasite’s gene expression, find potential drug targets and help end a disease...

John Erdman Jr., Eric Bolton, and Matthew Wallig An enzyme that converts the dietary carotenoid beta carotene into vitamin A in the body may also regulate testosterone levels and growth of the prostate, a new study found. Scientists at the University of Illinois explored the impact of the enzyme Bco1 on testosterone levels and testosterone-sensitive...

This is Part 2 of Behavior Changes in Senior Pets. (Read Part 1: Is Your Pet Just ‘Getting Old’?) In Part 1, we reviewed how physical illness can be mistaken for a dog or cat simply “getting old.” Now, what if you take your dog or cat for an evaluation and everything checks out fine but your...

As a young veterinarian in Zambia, Dr. William Witola wanted to know why the baby cows he saw were dying from a parasite resisting all treatment. Decades later, the University of Illinois Veterinary Medicine researcher is designing small molecules to silence that same parasite’s gene expression, find potential drug targets and help end a disease...

On November 21, at the annual Thanksgiving celebration for College of Veterinary Medicine faculty, staff, and graduate students, Dean Peter Constable recognized five staff members marking service milestones in 2016. They are: Misty Oakley, 35 years of service Nikki Clarkson, 15 years of service Kristina Engelking, 15 years of service Jennifer Dittmar, 10 years of...

Now Livestreaming: Great Blue Heron The University of Illinois Wildlife Medical Clinic—a non-profit organization that provides care and treatment to sick, injured, and orphaned wild animals—will feature a different patient each week on the Critter Cam. Caption and video don’t match? Well, situations can change pretty fast in the Wildlife Medical Clinic, so we can’t always keep...

Bahaa A. Fadl-Alla, lab instructor/research specialist, has worked at the College of Veterinary Medicine for close to 17 years. Using roughly 10 words or less, describe what your role at the college is. Getting involved in many of the pioneer research projects in oncology and pathobiology. What is your favorite part of your job? Teaching and interacting with the...

A study of mouse reproductive tissues finds that exposure to isoliquiritigenin, a compound found in licorice, disrupts steroid sex hormone production in the ovary, researchers report. This is the first study to examine the effects of this chemical on the ovary. Exposure to high levels of the compound, which the researchers call “iso,” lowered the...

“Rotation vacation” is the sole phrase I heard upon starting my veterinary school education. The University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine is unique because its curriculum provides students with clinical rotations in the first year whereas most others start rotations in the fourth year. This allows students to better grasp basic skills and concepts to...

This is Part 1 of 2 of Behavior Changes in Senior Pets. Is your pet’s lack of interest in play or slowness to get up just a symptom of “getting old”? Think again. While animals are more prone to various diseases as they age, aging in and of itself is not a disease. My own dog...

Heather Clay, Assistant Dean for Advancement, has worked at the College of Veterinary Medicine for about four months. Using roughly 10 words or less, describe what your role at the college is. I lead the fundraising and alumni relations team at the college. What is your favorite part of your job? I have been in fundraising for more than 20...